Display device

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display device  10  includes a liquid crystal display panel  11 , a driver  21 , panel-side output terminals  24 , image signal lines  30 , and control signal lines  31 . The liquid crystal display panel  11  includes a display area AA and a non-display area NAA. The driver  21  has an elongated shape that extends along an edge of the liquid crystal panel  11 . The panel-side output terminals  24  are connected to the driver  21 . The image signal lines  30  are routed from the panel-side output terminals  24  toward the display area AA in a fan-like form so as to cross a long edge  21 L of the driver  21 . The image signal lines  30  are configured to transmit image signals. The control signal lines  31  are routed from the panel-side output terminals  24  toward the display area AA. The control signal lines  31  are configured to transmit control signals. The control signal lines  31  include first control signal lines  31 A and second control signal lines  31 B. The first control signal lines  31 A are routed toward the display area AA along the image signal lines  30 . The second control signal lines  31 B are routed from the panel-side output terminals  24  so as to cross a short edge  21 S of the driver  21 . At least a portion of each second control signal lines  31 B has a larger width than that of the first control signal lines  31 A.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a display device.

BACKGROUND ART

Personal digital assistants such as mobile phones, smartphones, andtablet computers or electronic devices such as computers include displaydevices including display panels such as liquid crystal panels. Each ofsuch display devices includes a display panel and a drive. The displaypanel includes a display area for displaying images. The driver includesan LSI configured to process input signals from a signal source and sendgenerated output signals to the display area for driving the displaypanel. In general, it is preferable to use a chip on glass (COG)technology to directly mount a driver on a display panel in anon-display area outside a display area in display devices classified assmall and medium sized display devices. An example of a display deviceof this kind is a display device disclosed in Patent Document 1.

RELATED ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 2010-243524

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

A display device such as one that is described above includes panel-sideoutput terminals, image signal lines, and control signal lines in anon-display area of a display panel. The panel-side output terminals areconnected to an output terminal portion of the driver that is long inthe horizontal direction. The image signal lines and the control signallines are routed from the panel-side output terminals toward the displayarea in a fan-like form. The panel-side output terminals are provided ina large number corresponding to definition (resolution) of the displayarea. The panel-side output terminals are arranged parallel to eachother along the long-side direction of the driver. The image signallines and the control signal lines are routed from the panel-side outputterminals toward the display area in a fan like form. When the number ofthe image signal lines is increased to improve the definition of thedisplay area, a distance between the panel-side output terminals and thedisplay area needs to be increased for routing the image signal linesand the control signal lines so as not to cross each other. Thisincreases a size of the non-display area and thus overall sizes of thedisplay panel and the display device increase or a frame area increases.

DISCLOSURE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances. Anobject of the present invention is to maintain a non-display area small.

Means for Solving the Problem

A display device according to the present invention includes a displaypanel, a panel driver, panel-side output terminals, image signal lines,control signal lines, first control signal lines, and second controlsignal lines. The display panel includes a display area configured todisplay images and a non-display area outside the display area. Thepanel driver is mounted in the non-display. The panel driver isconfigured to drive the display panel by processing input signalssupplied by an external signal source and inputting output signalsgenerated from the input signals to the display panel. The panel driverhas an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction thereof along anedge of the display panel. The panel-side output terminals is disposedin the non-display area and connected to the panel driver. The imagesignal lines are disposed in the non-display area. The image signallines are routed from the panel-side image output terminals so as tocross a long edge of the panel driver and spread in a fan-like formtoward the display area. The image signal lines are configured totransmit image signals included in the output signals. The controlsignal lines disposed in the non-display area and routed from thepanel-side output terminals toward the display area. The control signallines are configured to transmit control signals included in the outputsignals. The control signal lines include first control signal lines andsecond control signal lines. The first control signal lines are routedfrom the panel-side output terminals so as to cross the long edge of thepanel driver and along the image signal lines toward the display area.The second control signal lines are routed from the panel-side outputterminals so as to cross a short edge of the panel driver. Each of thesecond control signal lines has at least a portion, a width of which islarger than a width of the first control signal lines.

According to the configuration, the panel driver mounted in thenon-display area of the display panel processes the input signals fromthe external signal source and generates the output signals. The paneldriver outputs the output signals. The penal-side output terminals areconnected to the panel driver. Therefore, the output signals includingimage signals and control signals from the panel driver are transmittedto the display area through the image signal lines and the controlsignal lines via the panel-side output terminals. With thisconfiguration, the display panel is driven.

In the non-display area, the image signal lines described above arerouted from the panel-side output terminals so as to cross the long edgeof the panel driver and to spread in the fan-like form toward thedisplay area. If all control signal lines are routed along image signallines that spread in a fan-like form toward the display area, a distancebetween the panel-side output terminals and the display area tends tobecome large. The control signal lines include the first control signallines and the second control signal lines. The first control signallines are routed from the panel-side output terminals toward the displayarea along the image signal lines so as to cross the long edge of thepanel driver. The second control signal lines are routed from thepanel-side output terminals so as to cross the short edge of the paneldriver. Therefore, the distance between the panel-side output terminalsand the display area, that is, the non-display area is maintained small.This configuration is advantageous for reducing an overall size and aframe size of the display device.

Because the second control signal lines are not arranged between thepanel-side output terminals and the display area, a width of at leastpart of each second control signal line can be increased larger thanthat of the first control signal line without expanding the non-displayarea. Therefore, wire resistance of the second control line can bereduced while the non-display area is maintained small.

Preferable configurations regarding embodiments of the present inventionwill be described.

(1) The at least a portion of the second control signal line includes aportion between the panel-side output terminals and the short edge ofthe panel driver and a portion outside the short edge of the paneldriver. The portion of the second control signal line routed from thepanel-side output terminal outside the short edge of the penal driver isarranged in an area of the non-display area larger than an area thereofbetween the panel-side output terminals and the display area. Therefore,a width of the portion of the second control signal line can beincreased, that is, a line resistance of the second control signal linecan be reduced while the non-display area is maintained small.

(2) The display device further includes inspection lines connected tothe control signal lines in the non-display area for inspectingcontinuity of the control signal lines. The inspection lines includefirst inspection lines and second inspection lines. The first inspectionlines are connected to the panel-side output terminals that areconnected to the first control signal lines. The second inspection linesare connected to portions of the second control signal lines closer tothe display area than portions of the second control signal lines havinga larger width. In this configuration, the first inspection lines areconnected to the panel-side output terminals that are connected to thefirst control signal lines. Therefore, the first control signal lineshaving the smaller width can be inspected for continuity for an entirelength of the first control signal lines. With this configuration,detectability of broken lines, if any, in the first control signal linesimproves. Therefore, the liquid crystal display device including thebroken first control signal line is less likely to be shipped. Thesecond control signal lines routed from the panel-side control outputterminals so as to cross the short edge of the panel driver. Therefore,it is difficult to directly connect the second inspection lines to thesecond panel-side control output terminals due to the limited space. Theportions of the second control signal lines having the smaller widthcloser to the display area are more likely to break in comparison to theportions of the second control signal lines having the larger width. Thesecond inspection lines are connected to the portions having the smallerwidth. With this configuration, detectability of broken lines, if any,in the portions having the smaller width improves. The portions of thesecond control signal lines having the larger width are less likely tobreak. Therefore, the liquid crystal display device including the brokensecond control signal line is less likely to be shipped even through aninspection using the second inspection lines is not performed.

(3) The first control signal lines are connected to the panel-sideoutput terminals arranged adjacent to the panel-side output terminalsthat are connected to the image signal lines. The second control signallines are connected to the panel-side output terminals arranged adjacentto the panel-side output terminals that are connected to the firstcontrol signal lines away from the panel-side output terminals connectedto the image signal lines. The first inspection lines are routed fromthe panel-side output terminals connected to the first control signallines so as to cross the short edge of the panel driver along the secondcontrol signal lines. The first inspection lines connected to thepanel-side control output terminals and the second control signal linesare routed so as not cross each other. In comparison to a configurationin which they cross each other, the routing is simple.

(4) The display device further includes first inspection terminals andsecond inspection terminals in the non-display area. The firstinspection terminals are connected to ends of the first inspection linesaway from ends thereof closer to the panel-side output terminals. Thesecond inspection terminals are connected to ends of the secondinspection lines away from ends thereof closer to the second controlsignal lines. The second inspection terminals are arranged adjacent tothe first inspection terminals away from the panel-side outputterminals. The first inspection terminals are arranged closer to thepanel-side output terminals to which the first inspection lines areconnected. The second inspection terminals are arranged closer to thesecond control signal lines to which the second inspection lines areconnected. This configuration is advantageous for reducing lengths ofthe first inspection lines and the second inspection lines as much aspossible.

(5) The display device further includes switching components, a rowcontrol circuit, and a column control circuit. The switching componentsare arranged in a matrix in the display area. The row control circuit isconnected to ends of the control signal lines closer to the display areaand configured to control inputs of the control signals to the switchingcomponents. The column control circuit is connected to ends of the imagesignal lines closer to the display area. The column control circuit isconfigured to control inputs of the image signals to the switchingcomponents. The inputs of the control signals from the control signallines to the switching components arranged in the matrix in the displayarea are controlled by the row control circuit. Furthermore, the inputsof the image signals from the image signal lines to the switchingcomponents are controlled by the column control circuit. With thisconfiguration, the switching components are properly driven andspecified images are properly displayed in the display area.

(6) The second control signal lines include at least a clock controlsignal line and a power supply control signal line. The clock controlsignal line is configured to transmit clock signals, which are one kindof the control signals. The power supply control signal line isconfigured to transmit power supply control signals for driving at leastone of the row control circuit and the column control circuit. Among thecontrol signal lines, the clock control signal line is a kind of linesthat is not expected to cause dull edges on a pulse waveform of theclock signals, which are control signals. The power supply controlsignal line is a kind of lines that is not expected to cause a voltagedrop to stably drive the row control circuit and the column controlcircuit. With at least portions of the clock control signal line and thepower source control signal line having the larger widths, the lineresistances thereof can be reduced. As a result, the clock signalshaving a stable pulse waveform are supplied to the switching components.Furthermore, the row control circuit and the column control circuit arestably driven.

(7) At least one of the first control signal lines includes a zigzagportion at a middle section thereof. At least one of the row controlcircuit and the column control circuit includes an electro-staticdischarge (ESD) protection circuit electrically connected to the firstcontrol signal line including the zigzag portion. With the zigzagportion, a line resistance of the first control signal line is higherthan a configuration without the zigzag portion. The first controlsignal line that includes the zigzag portion is electrically connectedto at least one of the row control circuit and the column controlcircuit including the ESD protection circuit. Even if a surge is inputto the first control signal line that includes the zigzag portion due toan electro-static discharge, the surge is passed to the ESD protectioncircuit. With this configuration the panel driver is protected from thesurge.

(8) The switching components, the row control circuit, and the columncontrol circuit include polycrystalline silicon thin films. Incomparison to amorphous silicon thin films, the electron mobility of thepolycrystalline silicon thin films is higher. This configuration isadvantageous for improving definition and reducing power consumption.

(9) The first control signal lines are connected to the panel-sideoutput terminals arranged adjacent to the panel-side output terminalsthat are connected to the image signal lines. The second control signallines are connected to the panel-side output terminals arranged adjacentto the panel-side output terminals that are connected to the firstcontrol signal lines and away from the panel-side output terminals thatare connected to the image signal lines. According to the configuration,lengths of portions of the second control signal lines, which are routedfrom the panel-side output terminals so as to cross the short edge ofthe panel driver, in an area that overlaps the panel driver are reduced.Therefore, mechanical interference is less likely to occur between thesecond control signal lines and the panel driver. Furthermore, circuitsin the panel driver are less likely to be subjected to noise.

(10) The display panel further includes panel-side input terminalsdisposed parallel to the panel-side output terminals along the shortedge of the panel driver in the non-display area. The panel-side inputterminals are connected to the panel driver. The second control signallines are routed in an area between the panel-side output terminals andthe panel-side input terminals. Input signals from an external signalsource are transmitted to the panel driver via the panel-side outputterminals. The second control signal lines are arranged in the areabetween the panel-side output terminals and the panel-side inputterminals that are arranged parallel to each other and along a directionparallel to the short edge of the panel driver. The second controlsignal lines is routed so as to cross the short edge of the paneldriver.

(11) The display panel is a liquid crystal display panel including apair of substrate and liquid crystals sealed between the substrates.Applications of such a display device include electronic devicesincluding personal digital assistances, mobile phones, notebookcomputers, and portable video game players.

(12) The display device further includes a lighting device arrangedopposite the liquid crystal panel and away from a display surface of theliquid crystal panel. The lighting device is configured to provide theliquid crystal panel with light. Images are displayed in the displayarea of the liquid crystal panel with the light provided by the lightingdevice.

Advantageous Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, the non-display area is maintainedsmall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view illustrating connection among a flexiblecircuit board, a control circuit board, and a liquid crystal panelincluding a driver according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal displaydevice along a longitudinal direction.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an end portion of an array board in which thedriver and the flexible circuit board are mounted illustrating routingof traces.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 along line v-v.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating arrangement of control signal linesand panel-side output terminals.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an end portion of an array board in which adriver and a flexible circuit board are mounted illustrating routing oftraces according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating arrangement of control signal lines,panel-side output terminals, and inspection lines.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating arrangement of control signal linesand panel-side output terminals according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating arrangement of control signal linesand panel-side output terminals according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of an end portion of an array board in which adriver and a flexible circuit board are mounted illustrating routing oftraces according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment

A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through6. A liquid crystal display device 10 according to this embodiment willbe described. X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis are indicated in the drawings.The axes in each drawing correspond to the respective axes in otherdrawings. The vertical direction in FIG. 2 is defined as a reference.The upper side and the lower side in FIG. 2 correspond to the front sideand the rear side, respectively.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid crystal display device 10includes a liquid crystal panel (a display panel, a display component)11, a driver (a panel driver) 21, a control circuit board (an externalsignal source) 12, a flexible circuit board (an external deviceconnecting member) 13, and a backlight unit (a lighting unit) 14. Theliquid crystal panel 11 includes a display area AA configured to displayimages and a non-display area NAA outside the display area AA. Thedriver 21 is configured to drive the liquid crystal display panel 11.The control circuit board 12 is configured to supply various inputsignals to the driver 21 from the outside. The flexible circuit board 13electrically connects the liquid crystal panel 11 to the externalcontrol circuit board 12. The backlight unit 14 is an external lightsource configured to provide the liquid crystal panel 11 with light. Theliquid crystal panel 10 further includes exterior trim components 15, 16for covering and holding the liquid crystal panel 11 and the backlightunit 14 that are mounted together. The exterior trim components 15, 16are a pair of front and rear components. The front exterior trimcomponent 15 includes avoid portion 15 a through which images on thedisplay area AA of the liquid crystal panel 11 are viewed from theoutside. The liquid crystal display device 10 according to thisembodiment is for various electronic devices (not illustrated) includingportable information terminals (including electronic book readers andPDAs), mobile phones (including smartphones), notebook computers(including tablet computers), digital photo frames, portable video gameplayers, and electronic papers. The display size of the liquid crystalpanel 11 of the liquid crystal display device 10 is from several inchesto a dozen inches. Namely, the liquid crystal panel 11 is generallyclassified as a small sized or a medium sized panel.

First, the backlight unit 14 will be described. As illustrated in FIG.2, the backlight unit 14 includes a chassis 14 a, a light source, whichis not illustrated, and an optical member, which are not illustrated.The chassis 14 a has a box-like shape with an opening on the front side(the liquid crystal panel 11 side). The light source (e.g., cold cathoderay tubes, LEDs, organic ELs) is arranged inside the chassis 14 a. Theoptical member is arranged so as to cover the opening of the chassis 14a. The optical member has a function for converting light from the lightsource into planar light.

Next, the liquid crystal panel 11 will be described. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the liquid crystal panel 11 has a vertically elongated (orrectangular) overall shape. The display area (active area) AA is offsettoward a first edge of the long dimension of the liquid crystal panel 11(the upper edge in FIG. 1). The driver 21 and the flexible circuit board13 are mounted to a portion of the liquid crystal panel 11 closer to asecond edge of the ling dimension thereof (the lower edge in FIG. 1). Anarea of the liquid crystal panel 11 outside the display area AA is thenon-display area (non-active area) NAA in which images area notdisplayed. The non-display area NAA includes a frame-like section aroundthe display area AA (corresponding to a frame area of a CF board 11 a,which will be described later) and a section closer to the second edgeof the long dimension (an exposed area of the array board 11 b notoverlapping the CF board 11 a). The section closer to the second edge ofthe long dimension includes a mounting section for the driver 21 and theflexible circuit board 13. The short-side direction of the liquidcrystal panel 11 corresponds with the X-axis direction in the drawings.The short-side direction of the liquid crystal panel 11 corresponds withthe Y-axis direction in the drawings. In FIG. 1, one-dash chain linesindicate an outline of the display area AA slightly smaller than the CFboard 11 a. An area outer than a solid line is the non-display area NAA.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal panel 11 includes a pair oftransparent (with light transmissivity) glass substrates 11 a, 11 b anda liquid crystal layer 11 c. The liquid crystal layer 11 c is betweenthe substrates 11 a, 11 b. The liquid crystal layer 11 c contains liquidcrystal molecules, which are substances that change opticalcharacteristics when electromagnetic field is applied. The substrates 11a, 11 b are bonded together with a sealant, which is not illustrated,while a gap equal to the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 11 c ismaintained. One of the substrates 11 a, 11 b on the front side is the CFboard 11 a and one on the rear side is the array board 11 b. Asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the CF board 11 a has a short dimensionsubstantially equal to that of the array board 11 b and a long dimensionsmaller than that of the array board 11 b. The CF board 11 a is bondedto the array board 11 b with a first edge of the long dimension (theupper edge in FIG. 1) aligned with that of the array board 11 b.Therefore, the CF board 11 a does not overlap a predefined area of thearray board 11 b closer to a second edge thereof (the lower edge in FIG.1), that is, front and back surfaces are exposed to the outside. Themounting section for the driver 21 and the flexible circuit board 13(arrangement section for terminals 22 to 24) is provided in this area.Alignment films 11 d, 11 e are formed on inner surfaces of thesubstrates 11 a, 11 b, respectively. The alignment films 11 d, 11 e arefor aligning the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 11c. Polarizing plates 11 f, 11 g are attached to outer surfaces of thesubstrates 11 a, 11 b, respectively.

Next, configurations of the array board 11 b and the CF board 11 ainside the display area AA will be described in detail in sequence. Asillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a number of thin film transistors (TFTs)17 and a number of pixel electrodes 18 are arranged in a matrix on theinner surface of the array board 11 b (a surface opposite the liquidcrystal layer 11C and the CF board 11 a). The TFTs 17 are switchingcomponents. Gate lines (row control lines, scanning lines) 19 and sourcelines (column control lines, data lines) are arranged in a matrix aroundthe TFTs 17 and the pixel electrodes 18. Namely, each TFT 17 and eachpixel electrodes 18 are arranged at an intersection of correspondingones of the gate lines 19 and the source lines 20 that are arranged in amatrix. The TFT 17 and the pixel electrodes 18 are arranged in a matrixsuch that they are parallel to each other. The gate lines 19 and thesource lines 20 are made of metal material (conducting material).Insulation films are arranged between the gate lines 19 and the sourcelines 20 at intersections thereof. The gate lines 19 and the sourcelines 20 are connected to gate electrodes and source electrodes of theTFTs 17, respectively. The pixel electrodes 18 are connected to drainelectrodes. Each TFT 17 includes a semiconductor film that can carryelectrons between the source electrode and the drain electrode. Thesemiconductor film is a continuous grain (CG) silicon thin film, whichis a kind of polycrystalline silicon thin films. The CG silicon thinfilm is prepared by adding a metal material to an amorphous silicon thinfilm and thermally processing it at a low temperature lower equal to550° C. or lower for a short period. Therefore, atomic arrangement ofsilicon crystals at a crystal grain boundary has continuity. Electronmobility of the CG silicon thin film is about 200 to 300 cm², which ishigher than the amorphous silicon thin film. Therefore, the TFT 17 canbe easily reduced in size and an amount of transmitting light of thepixel electrode 18 can be maximized. This configuration is preferablefor improving the definition and reducing power consumption. In the TFT17 including such a semiconductor film, the semiconductor film isarranged at the bottom layer and the gate electrode is layered, that is,in an upper layer via an insulating film. Namely, the TFT 17 is astaggered type (a coplanar-type). The pixel electrode 18 has a portraitshape (a rectangular shape) in a plan view. The pixel electrode 18 ismade of transparent electrode material such as indium tin oxide (ITO)and zinc oxide (ZnO). Capacitance lines may be arranged on the arrayboard 11 b parallel to the gate lines 19, crossing the pixel electrodes18, and overlapping via an insulating layer (not illustrated).

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a number of color filters 11 h including colorsections such as red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color sections arearranged in a matrix on the CF board 11 a. The color filters 11 h arearranged parallel to each other so as to overlap the pixel electrodes 18on the array board 11 b in a plan view. A light blocking layer (a blackmatrix) 11 i is formed in spaces between the color sections of the colorfilters 11 h. The light blocking layer has a grid-like shape and has afunction for reducing color mixing. The light blocking layer 11 i isdisposed over the gate lines 19 and the source lines 20 in a plan view.Counter electrodes 11 j are formed on surfaces of the color filters 11 hand the light blocking layer 11 i. The counter electrodes 11 j are solidtraces opposite the pixel electrodes 18 on the array board 11 b. In theliquid crystal panel 11, the R (red), the G (green), and the B (blue)color sections and three pixel electrodes 18 opposite those colorsections form one pixel, which is a unit of display. The pixel includesa red pixel including the R color section, a green pixel including the Gcolor section, and a blue pixel including the B color section. The colorpixels are arranged on a plate surface of the liquid crystal panel 11 inrepeating sequence along the rows (the X-axis direction). This forms anumber of groups of pixels arranged along the columns (the Y-axisdirection).

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the control circuit board 12 is mountedto the rear surface (an outer surface on an opposite side from theliquid crystal panel 11) of the chassis 14 a of the backlight unit 14with screws. The control circuit board 12 includes electronic componentsfor providing the driver 21 with various input signals. The electroniccomponents are mounted on a phenolic paper or a glass-epoxy resinsubstrate on which traces (electrically-conducting paths) are formed inpredetermined patterns (not illustrated). A first end (one of ends) ofthe flexible printed circuit board 13 is electrically and mechanicallyconnected to the control circuit board 12 via an anisotropic conductivefilm (ACF).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the flexible circuit board (an FPC board) 13includes a base member made of synthetic resin (e.g., polyimide resin)having insulating properties and flexibility. A number of traces areformed on the base member (not illustrated). The first end of the longdimension of the flexible circuit board 13 is connected to the controlcircuit board 12 disposed on the rear surface of the chassis 14 a asdescribed earlier. A second end (another end) is connected to the arrayboard 11 b of the liquid crystal panel 11. In the liquid crystal displaydevice 10, the flexible circuit board 13 is folded in U-like shape in across-sectional view. At ends of the long dimension of the flexiblecircuit board 13, the traces are exposed to the outside to form terminalportions (not illustrated). The terminal portions are electricallyconnected to the control circuit board 12 and the array board 11 b,respectively. With this configuration, the input signals are transmittedfrom the control circuit board 12 to the liquid crystal panel 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the driver 21 is an LSI chip including adriver circuit therein. The driver 21 is configured to operate based onsignals from the control circuit board 12, which is a signal source, togenerate output signals from the input signals from the control circuitboard 12, and to send the output signals to the display area AA of theliquid crystal panel 11. The driver 21 has a landscape rectangular shapein a plan view (a longitudinal shape along the short edge of the liquidcrystal panel 11). The driver 21 is directly mounted on the array board11 b of the liquid crystal panel 11 in the non-display area NAA, thatis, through a chip on glass (COG) mount method. The long-side directionof the driver 21 corresponds with the X-axis direction (the short-sidedirection of the liquid crystal panel 11) and the short-side directionthereof corresponds with the Y-axis direction (the long-side directionof the liquid crystal panel 11).

Next, a connecting structure of the flexible circuit board 13 and thedriver 21 in the non-display area NAA of the array board 11 b will bedescribed. The non-display area NAA of the array board 11 b includes anon-overlapping area that does not overlap the CF board 11 a. In thenon-overlapping area, the driver 21 and the flexible circuit board 13are mounted as illustrated in FIG. 1. An end of the flexible circuitboard 13 is arranged at a short edge portion of the array board 11 b andthe driver 21 is arranged closer to the display area AA than theflexible circuit board 13 on the array board 11 b. Namely, the driver 21is arranged between the display area AA and the flexible circuit board13 in the non-display area NAA and the flexible circuit board 13 isarranged such that the end thereof (the portion mounted to the liquidcrystal panel 11) is farther from the display area AA than the driver21. The end of the flexible circuit board 13 is mounted at the middle ofthe short dimension of the array board 11 b such that an edge of themounted end extends along the short side of the array board 11 b (alongthe short-side direction or the X-axis direction). The length of theedge of the flexible circuit board 13 mounted to the array board 11 b issmaller than the length of the array board 11 b. The driver 21 ismounted at the middle of the short dimension of the array board 11 b inthe non-display area NAA with the long-side direction thereof alignedwith the short-side direction of the array board 11 b (the X-axisdirection).

As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the mounting area of the array board 11 bin which the flexible circuit board 13 is mounted (an external componentmounting area), external connection terminals 22 are arranged forreceiving input signals from the flexible circuit board 13. In themounting area of the array board 11 b in which the driver 21 is mounted(a panel driver mounting area), panel-side input terminals 23 andpanel-side output terminals 24 are arranged. The panel-side inputterminals 23 are for inputting input signals to the driver 21 and thepanel-side output terminals 24 are for receiving output signals from thedriver 21. In the non-display area NAA, relay traces are routed (notillustrated) so as to cross a space between the mounting area in whichthe flexible circuit board 13 is mounted and the mounting area in whichthe driver 21 is mounted. The external connection terminals 22 and thepanel-side input terminals 23 are electrically connected via the relaytraces. The driver 21 includes driver-side input terminals (apanel-driving-side input terminal) 25 and driver-side output terminals(a panel-driving-side output terminal) 26. The driver-side inputterminals 25 are electrically connected to the panel-side inputterminals 23. The driver-side output terminals 26 are electricallyconnected to the panel-side output terminals 24. In FIG. 4, the flexiblecircuit board 13 and the driver 21 are indicated by two-dashed chainlines. In FIGS. 4 and 6, one-dashed chain lines indicate the outerboundary of the display area AA inside a column control circuit 27 and arow control circuit 28, which will be described later. The area outsideone-dashed chain lines is the non-display area NAA.

The panel-side input terminals 23 and the panel-side output terminals 24include thin films that are made of the same metal material as that ofthe gate lines 19 or the source lines 20. As illustrated in FIG. 5, thesurfaces of the thin films are covered with transparent electrodematerial that is the same as that of the pixel electrodes 18 such as ITOand ZnO. In the production process of the liquid crystal panel 11 (thearray board 11 b), patterning of the panel-side input terminals 23 andthe panel-side output terminals 24 is performed during patterning of thegate lines 19, the source lines 20, or the pixel electrodes 18 using aknown photolithography method. Anisotropic conductive films (ACF) 29 areapplied to the surfaces of the panel-side input terminals 23 and thepanel-side output terminals 24. The driver-side input terminals 25 andthe driver-side output terminals 26 of the driver 21 are electricallyconnected to the panel-side input terminals 23 and the panel-side outputterminals 24, respectively, via conducting particles 29 a contained inthe anisotropic conductive films 29. Although not illustrated in thedrawings, the external connection terminals 22 have the samecross-sectional structure as the panel-side input terminals 23 and thepanel-side output terminals 24. The external connection terminals 22 areelectrically connected to the terminal portion of the flexible circuitboard 13 via the anisotropic conductive film.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the panel-side input terminals 23 and thepanel-side output terminals 24 are arranged in an area of the arrayboard 11 b where the driver 12 overlaps in a plan view, that is, themounting area of the array board 11 b. The panel-side input terminals 23and the panel-side output terminals 24 are arranged along the Y-axisdirection (an arrangement direction in which the driver 21 and thedisplay area AA are arranged) with a predetermined gap therebetween. Thepanel-side input terminals 23 are arranged closer to the flexiblecircuit board 13 (away from the display area AA) in the mounting area ofthe driver 21 of the array board 11 b. The panel-side output terminals24 area arranged closer to the display area AA (away from the flexiblecircuit board 13). Groups of the panel-side input terminals 23 and thepanel-side output terminals 24 are linearly arranged at predeterminedintervals along the X-axis direction, that is, the long-side directionof the driver 21. The panel-side output terminals 24 include panel-sideimage output terminals 24A and the panel-side control output terminals24B. The panel-side output terminals 24 are for receiving image signals(data signals, video signals) in output signals from the driver 21. Thepanel-side control output terminals 24B are for receiving controlsignals in the output signals. A plurality of the panel-side imageoutput terminals 24A in the panel-side output terminals 24 are arrangedfrom the right edge toward left in FIG. 4 along the X-axis direction.The panel-side image output terminals 24A account for a large part (alarge number) of the panel-side output terminals 24. Five panel-sidecontrol output terminals 24B are arranged from the left edge towardright in FIG. 4 along the X-axis direction. The panel-side controloutput terminals 24B account for only a part (a small number) of thepanel-side output terminals 24. In the following description, thepanel-side image output terminals of the panel-side output terminals 24will be indicated by the reference numeral with the suffix A and thepanel-side control output terminals will be indicated by the referencenumeral with the suffix B when they need to be distinguished from eachother. When the panel-side image output terminals and the panel-sidecontrol output terminals do not need to be distinguished from eachother, the suffixes will not be added.

The driver-side input terminals 25 and the driver-side output terminals26 are made of metal having high conductivity such as gold. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, each of the driver-side input terminals 25 andthe driver-side output terminals 26 has a bump-like shape that protrudesfrom the bottom surface of the driver 21 (the surface opposite the arrayboard 11 b). The driver-side input terminals 25 and the driver-sideoutput terminals 26 are connected to a processing circuit in the driver21. Input signals from the driver-side input terminals 25 are processedby the processing circuit and the processed signals are output from thedriver-side output terminals 26. The driver-side input terminals 25 andthe driver-side output terminals 26 are arranged along the X-axisdirection similar to the panel-side input terminals 23 and thepanel-side output terminals 24. Namely, groups of the driver-side inputterminals 25 and the driver-side output terminals 26 are linearlyarranged at predetermined intervals along the long-side direction of thedriver 21.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, in portions of the non-display area NAA of thearray board 11 b adjacent to the short side and the long side of thedisplay area AA, respectively, the column control circuit 27 and the rowcontrol circuit 28 are disposed. The column control circuit 27 and therow control circuit 28 are connected to the gate lines 19 and the sourcelines 20 for transmitting output signals from the driver 21 to the TFTs17. Each of the column control circuit 27 and the row control circuit 28includes a control circuit for controlling transmission of the outputsignals to the TFTs 17. The control circuit is monolithically fabricatedon the array board 11 b with a CG silicon thin film, which is also usedin TFTs 17, as a base. In the production process of the liquid crystalpanel 11 (the array board 11 b), patterning of the column controlcircuit 27 and the row control circuit 28 is performed on the arrayboard 11 b during patterning of the TFTs 17 using a knownphotolithography method.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the column control circuit 27 is arrangedadjacent to the short side of the display area AA on the lower side inFIG. 4. Namely, the column control circuit 27 is arranged in a landscaperectangular area that extends in the X-axis direction between thedisplay area AA and the driver 21 with respect to the Y-axis direction.The column control circuit 27 is connected to the source lines 20arranged in the display area AA. The column control circuit 27 includesa switch circuit (an RGB switch circuit) for distributing the imagesignals in the output signals from the driver to the source lines 20,respectively. Specifically, multiple numbers of the source lines 20 arearranged parallel to each other in the X-axis direction in the displayarea AA of the array board 11 b and connected to the respective TFTs 17configured as R (red), G (green), and B (blue) pixels. The columncontrol circuit 27 distributes the image signals from the driver 21 tothe R, G, and B source lines 20 using the switch circuit. The columncontrol circuit 27 includes auxiliary circuits including a level shiftercircuit and an electro-static discharge (ESD) protection circuit.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the row control circuit 28 is arrangedadjacent to the long edge of the display area AA on the left side inFIG. 4. Namely, the row control circuit 28 is arranged in a portraitrectangular area that extends in the Y-axis direction. The row controlcircuit 28 is connected to the gate lines 19 arrange in the display areaAA. The row control circuit 28 includes a scan circuit for sendingcontrol signals in the output signals from the driver 21 to the gatelines 19 at predetermined timing and scanning the gate lines 19 insequence. Specifically, multiple numbers of the gate lines 19 arearranged parallel to each other in the Y-axis direction in the displayarea AA of the array board 11 b. The scan circuit of the row controlcircuit 28 is configured to send control signals (scan signals) from thedriver 21 to the gate lines 19 in sequence from the uppermost one inFIG. 4 to the lowermost one to scan the gate lines 19. The row controlcircuit 28 includes auxiliary circuits including a level shiftercircuit, a buffer circuit, and an ESD protection circuit.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the non-display area NAA of the array board11 b, image signal lines 30 and control signal lines 31 are arranged.The image signal lines 30 connect the panel-side image output terminals24A, which are connected to the driver 21, to the column control circuit27 to transmit image signals. The control signal lines 31 connect thepanel-side control output terminals 24B, which are connected to thedriver 21, to the row control circuit 28 to transmit control signals.The image signal lines 30 and the control signal lines 31 are made ofthe same metal material as the gate lines 19 and the source lines 20. Inthe production process of the liquid crystal panel 11 (the array board11 b), patterning of the image signal lines 30 and the control signallines 31 is performed on the array board 11 b during patterning of thegate lines 19 or the source lines 20 using a known photolithographymethod.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, one of ends of each image signal line 30(closer to the display area AA) is connected to the long edge of thecolumn control circuit 27. The other end of each image signal line 30(away from the display area AA) is connected to the correspondingpanel-side image output terminal 24A. The image signal lines 30 arerouted so as to cross an area between the column control circuit 27 andthe panel-side image output terminals 24A in the non-display area NAA ofthe array board 11 b. A number of the image signal lines 30 are arrangedin the X-axis direction and connected to the respective panel-side imageoutput terminals 24A that are arranged in the X-axis direction. AnX-dimension of an area in which the column control circuit 27, to whichthe image signal lines 30 are connected, is larger than that of an areain which the panel-side image output terminals 24A are disposed whenthey are compared. This is because the number of the source lines 20connected to the column control circuit 27 is larger than the number ofthe image signal lines 30 (about three times larger). The image signallines 30 connected to the panel-side image output terminals 24A spreadin a fan-like form when they are routed from the panel-side image outputterminals 24A to the column control circuit 27. Specifically, the imagesignal lines 30 are routed from the panel-side image output terminals24A in the Y-axis direction, that is, a direction perpendicular to thelong-side direction of the driver 21 toward the column control circuit27 (toward the display area AA). The image signal lines 30 are bent atan angle relative to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction andspread outward in the X-axis direction (the long-side direction of thedriver 21). The image signal lines 30 are routed to the long edge of thecolumn control circuit 27. Namely, the image signal lines 30 are routedfrom the panel-side image output terminals 24A to the column controlcircuit 27 so as to cross the long edge 211 of the driver 21 and spreadin a fan-like form. The image signal lines 30 on the left in FIG. 4among the image signal lines 30 are angled in the counterclockwisedirection and the image signal lines 30 on the right in FIG. 4 areangled in the clockwise direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, one of the control signal lines 31 includesone of ends (closer to the display area AA) connected to the short edgeof the column control circuit 27 adjacent to the row control circuit 28and the other end (away from the display area AA) connected to thepanel-side control output terminal 24B. Four of the control signal lines31 each includes one of ends connected to the short edge of the rowcontrol circuit 28 closer to the column control circuit 27 and the otherend connected to the panel-side control output terminal 24B. The controlsignals transmitted by the control signal line 31 including the endconnected to the column control circuit 27 include driving voltagesignals for driving the column control circuit 27. The control signalstransmitted by the control signals lines 31 including the ends connectedto the row control circuit 28 include scan signals, clock signals, powersupply voltage signals, initial signals, start pulses,scanning-direction switching signals, and driving signals for drivingthe row control circuit 28.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the control signal lines 31 include firstcontrol signal lines 31A and second control signal lines 31B. The firstcontrol signal lines 31A are routed from the panel-side control outputterminals 24B toward the display area AA so as to cross the long edge21L of the driver 21 and extend along the image signal line 30. Thesecond control signal lines 31B are routed from the panel-side controloutput terminals 24B toward the display area AA so as to cross the shortedge 21S of the driver 21. In the following description, the firstcontrol signal lines of the control signal lines 31 will be indicated bythe reference numeral with the suffix A and the second control signallines will be indicated by the reference numeral with the suffix B whenthey need to be distinguished from each other. When the first controlsignal lines and the second control signal lines do not need to bedistinguished from each other, the suffixes will not be added.Furthermore, in the following description, the panel-side control outputterminals 24B to which the first control signal lines 31A are connectedamong the panel-side control output terminals 24B are indicated as thefirst panel-side control output terminals 24B1. The panel-side controloutput terminals 24B to which the second control signal lines 31B areconnected are indicated as the second panel-side control outputterminals 24B2. When the first panel-side control output terminals andthe second panel-side control output terminals are distinguished fromeach other, the first panel-side control output terminals will beindicated by the reference numeral with the suffix “1” and the secondpanel-side control output terminals will be indicated by the referencenumeral with the suffix “2.” When the first panel-side control outputterminals and the second panel-side control output terminals do not needto be distinguished from each other, the suffixes will not be added.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the first panel-side control output terminals24B1 connected to the first control signal lines 31A are arrangedadjacent to the panel-side image output terminals 24A among thepanel-side output terminals 24. Three first control signal lines 31A andthree first panel-side control output terminals 24B1 are arranged in theX-axis direction. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first control signallines 31A are routed from the first panel-side control output terminals24B1 in the Y-axis direction, that is, a direction perpendicular to thelong-side direction of the driver 21, toward the column control circuit27 (toward the display area AA). The first control signal lines 31A arebent at an angle relative to the X-axis direction and the Y-axisdirection and spread outward in the X-axis direction (the long-sidedirection of the driver 21). The first control signal lines 31A arerouted from the first panel-side control output terminals 24B1 to thecolumn control circuit 27 or the row control circuit 28. Namely, thefirst control signal lines 31A are routed in substantially parallel tothe image signal line 30 adjacently arranged in the X-axis direction insome portions so as not to cross the image signal line 30. The firstcontrol signal lines 31A spread in a fan-like form. A width of eachfirst control signal line 31A is substantially constant for an entirelength thereof.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first control signal lines 31A include onethat includes an end connected to the column control circuit 27 and ones(two of them) that include ends connected to the row control circuit 28.The first control signal line 31A connected to the column controlcircuit 27 includes an angled portion that is angled relative to theX-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The angled portion extendsparallel to the image signal line 30 for a predetermined distance. Thefirst control signal line 31A then bends and extends outward in theX-axis direction. The first control signal line 31A then bends twicesubstantially at a right angle and reaches the column control circuit27.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first control signal line 31A connected tothe column control circuit 27 and one of the two first control signallines 31A connected to the row control circuit 28 include zigzagportions 32 formed by winding portions of the first control signal lines31A extending in the X-axis direction. Each zigzag portion has a zigzagplan-view shape. In comparison to the first control signal lines 31Athat do not include the zigzag portions, the first control signal lines31A that include the zigzag portions have higher resistance. The firstcontrol signal lines 31A including the zigzag portions include one thatis connected to the column control circuit 27 and one that is connectedto the row control circuit 28. The column control circuit 27 and the rowcontrol circuit 28 include the ESD protection circuits, respectively.Therefore, even if the first control signal lines 31A that include thezigzag portions 32 receive surges due to ESD, the surges are absorbed bythe ESD circuits. With this configuration, the driver 21 is protectedfrom surges.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the second panel-side control output terminals24B2 connected to the second control signal lines 31B among thepanel-side output terminals 24 are arranged adjacent to the firstpanel-side control output terminals 24B1 and away from the panel-sideimage output terminals 24A (i.e., at an end of the panel-side outputterminals 24). Namely, the second panel-side control output terminals24B2 are arranged closer to the row control circuit 28 then otherpanel-side output terminals 24. Two second control signal lines 31B andtwo second panel-side control output terminals 24B2 are arranged in theX-axis direction. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the second control signallines 31B extend from the second panel-side control output terminals24B2 in the Y-axis direction, that is, the direction perpendicular tothe long-side direction of the driver 21 toward a side opposite to thecolumn control circuit 27 (or the display area AA). The second controlsignal lines 31B then bend at a substantially right angle beforereaching the panel-side input terminals 23 and extend in the X-axisdirection out of the mounting area in which the driver 21 is mountedafter crossing the short edge 21S of the driver 21. The direction inwhich the second control lines 31B extend from the second panel-sidecontrol output terminals 24B2 is 180 degrees apposite from the directionin which the image signal lines 30 and the first control signal lines31A extend from the panel-side image output terminals 24A and the firstpanel-side control output terminals 24B1, respectively. The secondcontrol signal lines 31B extend in the mounting area in which the driver21 is mounted between the second panel-side control output terminals24B2 and the panel-side input terminals 23 and cross the short edge 21Sof the driver 21. Unlike the image signal lines 30 or the first controlsignal lines 31A described earlier, the second control signal lines 31Bare not arranged in the area between the driver 21 and the columncontrol circuit 27 (or the display area AA). In comparison to aconfiguration in which all control signal lines are routed similar tothe image signal lines 30, the distance between the driver 21 and thecolumn control circuit 27 because the second control signal lines 31Bare not arranged in the area between the driver 21 and the columncontrol circuit 27. Therefore, the non-display area NAA decreases insize. This configuration is advantageous for decreasing an overall sizeof the liquid crystal display 10 or a frame size. In comparison to aconfiguration in which the locations of the first panel-side controloutput terminals and the second panel-side control output terminals areswitched around, the lengths of the second control signal lines 31B inthe driver 21 mounting area are smaller. Therefore, the driver 21 isless likely to mechanically interfere with the second control signallines 31B and circuits in the diver 21 are less likely to be affected bynoise.

More of the routing of the second control signal lines 31B will bedescribed. As illustrated in FIG. 6, each of the second control signallines 31B extends over the short edge 21S of the driver 21 along theX-axis direction toward the outside (toward the row control circuit 28).The second control signal line 31B then bends at a substantially rightangle and extends along the Y-axis direction toward the column controlcircuit 27. The second control signal line 31B extends along the Y-axisdirection for a predetermined distance. The second control signal line31B includes an angled portion that is angled relative to the X-axisdirection and the Y-axis direction. The angled portion extends towardthe outside for a predetermined distance and then bends. The secondcontrol signal line 31B then extend along the Y-axis direction andreaches the short edge of the row control circuit 28. A portion of thesecond control signal line 31B is parallel to the adjacent first controlsignal line 31A (connected to the row control circuit 28). The portionis between a point where it bends at the angle and a point where itreaches the row control circuit 28.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a portion of the second control signal line31B has a larger width than a width of the first control signal line31A. Namely, the second control signal line 31B extends from the secondpanel-side control output terminal 24B2 over the short edge 21S of thedriver 21, that is, it is not arranged in an area between the driver 21and the column control circuit 27. Therefore, even the width of thesecond control signal line 31B is larger than that of the first controlsignal line 31A, it is not necessary to expand the non-display area NAA.Because the second control signal line 31B has the smaller width, a lineresistance thereof is smaller than a line resistance of the firstcontrol signal line 31A although the non-display area NAA is maintainedsmall. One of two second control signal lines 31B (a clock signalcontrol line) is for transmitting clock signals, which are controlsignals, to the row control circuit 28. The other second control signalline 31B (a power supply control line) is for transmitting power supplyvoltage signals, which are control signals, to the row control circuit28. The second control signal line 31B for transmitting the clocksignals is a kind of line that is not expected to cause dull edges onpulse waveforms of the clock signals. With the second control signalline 31B having the width larger than that of the first control signalline 31 and the lower line resistance, clock signals having stable pulsewaveforms are supplied to the TFTs 17. The second control signal line31B for the transmitting the power supply voltage signals is a kind ofline that is not expected to cause a voltage drop to stably drive therow control circuit 28. With the second control signal line 31B havingthe width larger than that of the first control signal line 31 and thelower line resistance, the row control circuit 28 stably operates.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 6, each of the second controlsignal lines 31B has two different widths. A portion having a smallerwidth is referred to as a small-width portion (a standard width portion)33 and a portion having a larger width is referred to as a large-widthportion (a larger width portion) 34. The width of the small-widthportion 33 of the second control signal line 31B is substantially equalto the width of the first control signal line 31A. The width of thelarge-width portion 34 of the second control signal line 31B is largerthan the width of the first control signal line 31A. The large-widthportion 34 is a portion of the second control signal line 31B betweenthe end connected to the second panel-side control output terminal 24B2and an end of the angled portion that is angled relative to the X-axisdirection and the Y-axis direction, respectively. The small-widthportion 33 is a portion of the second control signal line 31B betweenthe end connected to the row control circuit 28 and another end of theangled portion. The large-width portion 34 includes an entire portion ofthe second control signal line 31B arranged in the mounting area inwhich the driver 21 is mounted and a portion that extends out of themounting area across the short edge 21S of the driver 21. In comparisonto an area of the non-display area in which the small-width portion 33is arranged, the area in which the large-width portion 34 is arranged isrelatively larger. Therefore, the portion can have a sufficiently largewidth. With this configuration, the line resistance of the secondcontrol signal line 31B is sufficiently reduced while the non-displayarea NAA is maintained small.

Each of the first control signal lines 31A has the smaller width and thehigher line resistance than the second control signal lines 31B. In thisembodiment, the first control signal lines 31A are configured totransmit signals other than the clock signals and the power supplyvoltage signals (e.g., initial signals, start pulses, scanning directionswitching signals.

As described above, the liquid crystal display device (a display device)10 according to this embodiment includes the liquid crystal panel (adisplay panel) 11, the driver (a panel driver) 21, the panel-side outputterminals 24A, and the control signal lines 31. The liquid crystal panel11 includes the display area AA configured to display images and thenon-display area NAA outside the display area AA. The driver (a paneldriver) 21 is mounted in the non-display area NAA. The driver 21 isconfigured to process input signals from the control circuit board 12,which is an external signal source, and to generate output signals. Thedriver 21 sends the output signals to the display area AA to driver theliquid crystal panel 11. The driver 21 has the elongated shape thatextends along the edge (the short edge) of the liquid crystal panel 11.The panel-side output terminals 24 are disposed in the non-display areaNAA and connected to the driver 21. The image signal lines 30 aredisposed in the non-display area NAA. The image signal lines 30 arerouted from the panel-side image output terminals 24A of the panel-sideoutput terminals 24 toward the display area AA in the fan-like form soas to cross the long edge 21L of the driver 21. The image signal lines30 are configured to transmit the image signals included in the outputsignals. The control signal lines 31 are disposed in the non-displayarea NAA. The control signal lines 31 are routed from the panel-sidecontrol output terminals 24B of the panel-side output terminals 24toward the display area AA. The control signal lines 31 are configuredto transmit the control signals included in the output signals. Thecontrol signal lines 31 include the first control signal lines 31A andthe second control signal lines 31B. The first control signal lines 31Aare routed from the first panel-side control output terminals 24B1 ofthe panel-side output terminals 24 toward the display area AA along theimage signal lines 30 so as to cross the long edge 21L of the driver 21.The second control signal lines 31 are routed from the second panel-sideoutput terminals 24B2 so as to cross the short edge 21S of the driver21. Each of the second control signal lines 31 includes at least aportion thereof having the width larger than the width of the firstcontrol line 31A.

With this configuration, the driver 21 mounted in the non-display areaNAA of the liquid crystal panel 11 processes input signals from thecontrol circuit board 12 that is an external signal source and generatesoutput signals. The driver 21 outputs the output signals. The panel-sideoutput terminals 24 arranged in the non-display area NAA are connectedto the driver 21. Image signals and control signals included in theoutput signals from the driver 21 are transmitted to the display area AAthrough the image signal lines 30 and the control signal lines 31 viathe panel-side output terminals 24. With this configuration, the liquidcrystal panel 11 is driven.

In the non-display area NAA, the image signal lines 30 described aboveare routed from the panel-side image output terminals 24A of thepanel-side output terminals 24 so as to cross the long edge 21L of thedriver 21 and to spread toward the display area AA in a fan-like form.If all control signal lines are arranged to spread toward the displayarea AA in a fan-like form along the image signal lines 30 that arearranged to spread in the fan-like form, a distance between thepanel-side output terminals 24 and the display area AA tends to becomelarge. The control signal lines 31 include the first control signallines 31A and the second control signal lines 31B. The first controlsignal lines 31A are routed from the first panel-side control outputterminals 24B1 of the panel-side output terminals 24 toward the displayarea AA along the image signal lines 30 so as to cross the long edge 21Lof the driver 21. The second control signal lines 31 are routed from thesecond panel-side output terminals 24B2 so as to cross the short edge21S of the driver 21. Therefore, it is not necessary to arrange thesecond control signal lines 31B in the area between the panel-sideoutput terminals 24 and the display area AA. Therefore, the distancebetween the panel-side output terminals 24 and the display area AA, thatis, the non-display area NAA is maintained small. This configuration ispreferable for reducing the overall size and the frame size of theliquid crystal display device 10.

The second control signal lines 31B are not arranged in the area betweenthe panel-side output terminals 24 and the display area AA. Therefore,the widths of at least portions of the second control signal lines 31Bcan be made larger than the width of the first control signal line 31Awithout expanding the non-display area NAA. With this configuration, theline resistance of each second control signal line 31B is reduced whilethe non-display area is maintained small.

Each of the second control signal lines 31B includes the portion betweenthe second panel-side control output terminal 24B2 of the panel-sideoutput terminals 24 and the short edge 21S of the driver 21 and theportion outside the short edge 21S of the driver 21. The portions havethe width larger than other portions. The portion between the secondpanel-side control output terminal 24B2 of the panel-side outputterminals 24 and the short edge 21S of the driver 21 and the portionoutside the short edge 21S of the driver 21 are arranged in the area ofthe non-display area NAA larger than an area thereof between thepanel-side output terminals 24 and the display area AA. Therefore, thewidth of the portion of the second control signal line 31B can beincreased, that is, the line resistance of the second control signalline 31B can be reduced while the non-display area NAA is maintainedsmall.

The TFTs (switching components) 17 are arranged in the matrix in thedisplay area AA. The row control circuit 28 is connected to ends of thecontrol signal lines 31 closer to the display area AA and configured tocontrol inputs of the control signals to the TFTs 17. The column controlcircuit 27 is connected to ends of the image signal lines 30 closer tothe display area AA. The column control circuit 27 is configured tocontrol inputs of the image signals to the TFTs 17. The inputs of thecontrol signals from the control signal lines 31 to the TFTs 17 arrangedin the matrix in the display area AA are controlled by the row controlcircuit 28. Furthermore, the inputs of the image signals from the imagesignal lines 30 to the TFTs 17 are controlled by the column controlcircuit 27. With this configuration, the TFTs 17 are properly driven andspecified images are properly displayed in the display area AA.

The second control signal lines 31B include at least a clock controlsignal line and a power supply control signal line. The clock controlsignal line is configured to transmit clock signals, which are one kindof the control signals. The power supply control signal line isconfigured to transmit power supply control signals for driving at leastone of the row control circuit 28 and the column control circuit 27.Among the control signal lines 31, the clock control signal line is akind of lines that is not expected to cause dull edges on the pulsewaveform of the clock signals, which are control signals. The powersupply control signal line is a kind of lines that is not expected tocause a voltage drop to stably drive the row control circuit 28 and thecolumn control circuit 27. With the clock control signal line and thepower source control signal line configured as the second control signallines 31B that include at least portions having the larger widths, theline resistances thereof can be reduced. As a result, the clock signalshaving a stable pulse waveform are supplied to the TFTs 17. Furthermore,the row control circuit 28 and the column control circuit 27 are stablydriven.

At least one of the first control signal lines 31A includes a zigzagportion 32 at a middle section thereof. At least one of the row controlcircuit 28 and the column control circuit 27 includes the ESD protectioncircuit electrically connected to the first control signal line 31A thatincludes the zigzag portion 32. With the zigzag portion 32, the lineresistance of the first control signal line 31A is higher than aconfiguration without the zigzag portion 32. The first control signalline 31A that includes the zigzag portion 32 is electrically connectedto at least one of the row control circuit 28 and the column controlcircuit 27 that includes the ESD protection circuit. Even if a surge isinput to the first control signal line 31A that includes the zigzagportion 32 due to an electro-static discharge, the surge is passed tothe ESD protection circuit. With this configuration the driver 21 isprotected from the surge.

The TFTs 17, the row control circuit 28, and the column control circuit27 include polycrystalline silicon thin films. In comparison toamorphous silicon thin films, the electron mobility of thepolycrystalline silicon thin films is higher. This configuration isadvantageous for improving definition and reducing power consumption.

The first control signal lines 31A are connected to the first panel-sidecontrol output terminals 24B1 of the panel-side output terminals 24 thatare arranged adjacent to the panel-side image output terminals 24A thatare connected to the image signal lines 30. The second control signallines 31B are connected to the second panel-side output terminals 24B2of the panel-side output terminals 24 that are arranged adjacent to thepanel-side output terminals 24B1 of the panel-side output terminals 24that are connected to the first control signal line 31A and away fromthe panel-side image output terminals 24A of the panel-side outputterminals 24 that are connected to the image signal lines 30. Accordingto the configuration, lengths of portions of the second control signallines 31B, which are routed from the second panel-side output terminals24B of the panel-side output terminals 24 so as to cross the short edge21S of the driver 21, in an area that overlaps the driver 21 arereduced. Therefore, mechanical interference is less likely to occurbetween the second control signal lines 31B and the driver 21.Furthermore, circuits in the driver 21 are less likely to be subjectedto noise.

The panel-side input terminals 23 are disposed parallel to thepanel-side output terminals 24 along the short edge 21S of the driver 21in the non-display area NAA. The panel-side input terminals 23 areconnected to the driver 21. The second control signal lines 31B arerouted in the area between the panel-side output terminals 24 and thepanel-side input terminals 23. Input signals from the control circuitboar 12, which is an external signal source, are transmitted to thedriver 21 via the panel-side output terminals 24. The second controlsignal lines 31B are arranged in the area between the panel-side outputterminals 24 and the panel-side input terminals 23 that are arrangedparallel to each other and along a direction parallel to the short edge21S of the driver 21. The second control signal lines 31B is routed soas to cross the short edge 21S of the driver 21.

The display panel is a liquid crystal display panel 11 including a pairof substrate 11 a, 11 b and liquid crystals 11 c sealed between thesubstrates 11 a, 11 b. Applications of such a display device, that is,the liquid crystal display device 10 include electronic devicesincluding personal digital assistances, mobile phones, notebookcomputers, and portable video game players.

The liquid display device 10 further includes the backlit unit (alighting device) 14 arranged opposite the liquid crystal panel 11 andaway from a display surface of the liquid crystal panel 11. Thebacklight unit 14 is configured to provide the liquid crystal panel 11with light. Images are displayed in the display area AA of the liquidcrystal panel 11 with the light provided by the backlight unit 14.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.The second embodiment includes inspection lines 35 and inspectionterminals 36. Similar configurations, operations, and effects to thefirst embodiment will not be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the inspection lines 35 are disposed in anon-display area NAA of an array board 111 b according to thisembodiment. The inspection lines 35 are for electrical inspections oncontrol signal lines 131 and a column control circuit 127 when connectedto them. In the non-display area NAA, the inspection terminals 36 aredisposed. Ends of the inspection lines 35 away from the control signallines 131 and the column control circuit 127 are connected to theinspection terminals 36. The inspections using the inspection lines 35and the inspection terminals 36 are performed in a stage of theproduction process of a liquid crystal panel 111 before mounting of adriver 121. The inspection lines 35 include two kinds of lines, controlsignal line inspection lines 35A and column control circuit inspectionlines 35B. An end of the control signal line inspection line 35A isconnected to the corresponding control signal line 131. An end of eachcolumn control circuit inspection line 35B is connected to the columncontrol circuit 127. The inspection terminals 36 include two kinds ofterminals, control signal line inspection terminals 36A and columncontrol circuit inspection terminals 36B. The control signal lineinspection terminals 36A include terminals to which ends of therespective control signal line inspection line 35A is connected. Ends ofthe respective column control circuit inspection lines 35B are connectedto the column control circuit inspection terminals 36B. In the followingdescription, the control signal line inspection lines and the controlsignal line inspection terminals will be indicated by the referencenumeral with the suffix A and the column control circuit inspectionlines and the column control circuit inspection terminals will beindicted by the reference numeral with the suffix B when they need to bedistinguished from each other. When they do not need to be distinguishedfrom each other, the suffixes will not be added. Two column controlcircuit inspection terminals 36B are arranged in an area of the arrayboard 111 b on the right side in FIG. 7 with respect to the X-axisdirection, that is, away from an area in which the row control circuit128 (or the control signal lines 131). The column control circuitinspection lines 35B are connected to the respective column controlcircuit inspection terminals 36B and the short edge of the columncontrol circuit 127 different from the short edge to which the firstcontrol signal line 131A is connected. Two column control circuitinspection lines 35B are parallel to each other. An inspection pad,which is not illustrated, is brought in contact with the column controlcircuit inspection terminals 36B to detect electrical defects such asbroken lines and short-circuits.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, five control signal line inspection terminals36A are arranged along the X-axis direction in an area of the arrayboard 111 b opposite to the row control circuit 128 (or the display areaAA) in the Y-axis direction with respect to the area in which thecontrol signal lines 131 are arranged (close to the edge of the arrayboard 111 b). The control signal line inspection lines 35A according tothis embodiment include first control signal line inspection lines(first inspection lines) 35A1 and second control signal line inspectionlines (second inspection lines) 35A2. The first control signal lineinspection lines 35A1 are connected to the respective first controlsignal lines 131A. The second control signal line inspection lines 35A2are connected to the respective second control signal lines 131B. Thecontrol signal line inspection terminals 36A include first controlsignal line inspection terminals (first inspection terminals) 36A1 andsecond control signal line inspection terminals (second inspectionterminals) 36A2. The first control signal line inspection terminals 36A1are connected to the respective first control signal line inspectionlines 35A1. The second control signal line inspection terminals 36A2 areconnected to the respective second control signal line inspection lines35A2. In the following description, regarding the control signal lineinspection lines 35A and the control signal line inspection terminals36A, the first control signal line inspection lines and the firstcontrol signal line inspection terminal will be indicated by thereference numeral with the suffix 1 and the second control signal lineinspection lines and the second control signal line inspection terminalwill be indicted by the reference numeral with the suffix 2 when theyneed to be distinguished from each other. When they do not need to bedistinguished from each other, the suffixes will not be added.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the first control signal line inspection lines35A1 are connected to first panel-side control output terminals 124B1,respectively. The first panel-side control output terminals 124B1 areconnected to the first control signal lines 131A. Specifically, each ofthe first control signal line inspection lines 35A1 extends from thefirst panel-side control output terminal 124B1 in an opposite directionto the column control circuit 127 (or the display area AA) along theY-axis direction, that is, a direction perpendicular to the longitudinaldirection of the driver 121. The first control signal line inspectionline 35A1 bends at a substantially right angle at a point close to thecorresponding panel-side input terminal 123 and extends in the X-axisdirection. Namely, the first signal line inspection line 35A1 extendsacross a short edge 121S of the driver 121 to the outside of themounting area in which the driver 121 is mounted. The first controlsignal line inspection lines 35A1 are routed along (or parallel to) thesecond control signal lines 131B. The first control signal lineinspection lines 35A1 are routed in the mounting area between the secondcontrol signal lines 131B and the panel-side input terminals 123. Themounting area is an area in which the drover 121 is mounted. Namely, thefirst control signal line inspection lines 35A1 connected to the firstpanel-side control terminals 124B1 and the second control signal lines131 b connected to the second panel-side control terminals 124B2 arerouted without crossing each other. The first control signal lineinspection lines 35A1 that extend outside the mounting area in which thedriver 121 is mounted extend outward in the X-axis direction and bend.The first control signal line inspection lines 35A1 are connected to therespective first control signal line inspection terminals 36A1. Becausethe first control signal line inspection lines 35A1 are connected to therespective first panel-side control output terminals 124B1, the firstcontrol signal lines 131A can be inspected for an entire length thereoffor electrical defects such as broken lines and short-circuits bybringing an inspection pad, which is not illustrated, in contact withthe first control signal line inspection terminals 36A1. A width of eachfirst control signal line 131A is smaller than a large-width portion 134of the second control signal line 131B. Therefore, broken lines are morelikely to occur. Inspections on the first control signal lines 131A forthe entire length thereof for broken lines or other defects areadvantageous for reducing possibilities of shipping the liquid crystalpanel 111 (or the liquid crystal display device) having a defect.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the second control signal line inspectionlines 35A2 are connected to portions of the respective second controlsignal lines 131B closer to the display area AA than the large-widthportions 134, that is, small-width portions 133. Specifically, thesecond control signal line inspection lines 35A2 are connected tosections of the small-width portions 133 of the respective secondcontrol signal lines 131B. The sections extend along the X-axisdirection. Each of the second control signal line inspection lines 35A2extends from a connecting point to the corresponding second controlsignal line 131B in an opposite direction to the display area AA alongthe Y-axis direction. An end of the second control signal lineinspection line 35A2 is connected to the second control signal lineinspection terminal 36A2. Because the second control signal lines 131Bis routed from the respective second panel-side control output terminals124B2 so as to cross the short edge 121S of the driver 121, it isdifficult to directly connect the second control signal line inspectionlines 35A2 to the respective second panel-side control output terminals124B2 due to the limited space. Namely, it is difficult to inspect thesecond control signal lines 131B for broken lines or other defects forthe entire length using the second control signal line inspection lines35A2. The small-width portions 133 of the second control signal lines131B are more likely to break in comparison to the large-width portions134. In this embodiment, the second control signal lines 131B areconnected to the respective small-width portions 133. With thisconfiguration, inspections are performed on the small-width portions 133that are more likely to break. The large-width portions 134 of thesecond control signal lines 131B are less likely to break. Therefore,failures that relate to the large-width portions 134 are less likely tooccur. Namely, the inspections are not necessary. This configuration isadvantageous for reducing possibilities of shipping the liquid crystalpanel 111 (or the liquid crystal display device) having a defect.

Next, an arrangement of the control signal line inspection terminals 36Awill be described. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the first control signalline inspection terminals 36A1 are arranged closer to the panel-sidecontrol output terminals 124B, to which they are connected, with respectto the X-axis direction. The second control signal line inspectionterminals 36A2 are arranged on the other side of the first controlsignal line inspection terminals 36A1 from the panel-side control outputterminals 124B. Namely, the second control signal line inspectionterminals 36A2 are farther from the panel-side control output terminals124B than the first control signal line inspection terminals 36A1 withrespect to the X-axis direction. The small-width portions of the secondcontrol signal lines 131B are arranged farther from the panel-sideoutput terminals 124B than the large-width portions 134. Namely, thesecond control signal line inspection terminals 36A2 are arranged closeto the small-width portions of the second control signal lines 131B towhich they are connected. According to the above configuration, lengthsof lines connected to the first control signal line inspection terminals36A1 and the second control signal line inspection terminals 36A2 can bereduced as much as possible.

As described above, this embodiment includes the inspection lines 35 inthe non-display area NAA. The inspection lines 35 are connected to thecontrol signal lines 131 for inspecting continuity of the control signallines 131. The inspection lines 35 include the first control signal lineinspection lines (the first inspection lines) 35A1 and the secondcontrol signal line inspection lines (the second inspection lines) 35A2.The first control signal line inspection lines 35A1 are connected to therespective first panel-side control output terminals 124B1 of thepanel-side output terminals 124 connected to the first control signallines 131A. The second control signal line inspection lines 35A2 areconnected to the portions of the respective second control signal lines131B closer to the display area AA than the large-width portions.Because the first control signal line inspection lines 35A1 areconnected to the respective first panel-side control output terminals124B1 of the panel-side output terminals 124 connected to the firstcontrol signal lines 131A, the first control signal lines 131A havingthe smaller width can be inspected for broken lines. With thisconfiguration, detectability of broken lines, if any, in the firstcontrol signal lines 131A improves. Therefore, the liquid crystaldisplay device including the broken first control signal line 131A isless likely to be shipped. Because the second control signal lines 131Bextend from the respective second panel-side control output terminals124B2 of the panel-side output terminals 124 and cross the short edge121S of the driver 121, it is difficult to directly connect the secondcontrol signal line inspection lines 35A2 to the respective secondpanel-side control output terminals 124B2 due to the limited space. Theportions of the second control signal lines 131B having the smallerwidth (the small-width portions 133) closer to the display area AA aremore likely to break in comparison to the portions of the second controlsignal lines 131B having the larger width (the large-width portions134). The second control signal line inspection lines 35A2 are connectedto the respective small-width portions 133. With this configuration,detectability of broken lines, if any, in the portions having thesmaller width improves. The portions of the second control signal lines131 b having the larger width are less likely to break. Therefore, theliquid crystal display device including the broken second control signalline 131B is less likely to be shipped even through an inspection usingthe second control signal line inspection lines 35A2 is not performed.

The first control signal lines 131A are connected to the firstpanel-side control output terminals 124B1 of the panel-side outputterminals 124. The first panel-side control output terminals 124B1 arearranged adjacent to the panel-side image output terminals 124A of thepanel-side output terminals 124 connected to the image signal lines 130.The second control signal lines 131B are connected to the secondpanel-side control output terminals 124B2 of the panel-side outputterminals 124. The second panel-side control output terminals 124B2 arearranged in an area adjacent to the first panel-side control outputterminals 124B1 away from the panel-side image output terminals 124A ofthe panel-side output terminals 124 connected to the image signal lines130. The first control signal line inspection lines 35A1 are routed fromthe first panel-side control output terminals 124B1 of the panel-sideoutput terminals 124 connected to the first control signal lines 131Aalong the second control signal lines 131B so as to cross the short edge121S of the driver 121. The first control signal line inspection lines35A1 connected to the first panel-side control output terminals 124B1 ofthe panel-side output terminals 124 and the second control signal lines131B are routed so as not cross each other. In comparison to aconfiguration in which they cross each other, the routing is simple.

The first control signal line inspection terminals (first inspectionterminals) 36A1 and the second control signal line inspection terminals(second inspection terminals) 36A2 are disposed in the non-display areaNAA. The first control signal line inspection terminals 36A1 areconnected to the ends of the respective first control signal lineinspection lines 35A1 arranged away from the first panel-side controloutput terminals 124B1 of the panel-side output terminals 124. Thesecond control signal line inspection terminals 36A2 are connected tothe ends of the respective second control signal line inspection lines35A2 arranged away from the second control signal lines 131B. The secondcontrol signal line inspection terminals 36A2 are arranged adjacent tothe first control signal line inspection terminals 36A1 and away fromthe first panel-side control output terminals 124B1 of the panel-sideoutput terminals 124. The first control signal line inspection terminals36A1 are arranged closer to the first panel-side control outputterminals 124B1 of the panel-side output terminals 124 to which thefirst control signal line inspection lines 35A1 are connected. Thesecond control signal line inspection terminals 36A2 are arranged closerto the second control signal lines 131B to which the second controlsignal line inspection lines 35A2 are connected. Therefore, the lengthsof the first control signal line inspection lines 35 a 1 and the secondcontrol signal line inspection lines 35A2 connected to the terminals,respectively, can be reduced as much as possible.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The thirdembodiment includes panel-side control output terminals 224B disposeddifferently from the above embodiments. Similar configurations,operations, and effects to the first embodiment will not be described.

Regarding an arrangement of the panel-side output terminals 224, asillustrated in FIG. 9, second panel-side control output terminals 224B2of the panel-side control output terminals 224B are arranged adjacent topanel-side image output terminals 224A. First panel-side control outputterminals 224B1 are away from the panel-side image output terminals 224Athat are adjacent to an area in which the panel-side output terminals224 are arranged. The first panel-side control output terminals 224B1are arranged closer to a row control circuit 228 among the panel-sideoutput terminals 224. The first panel-side control output terminals224B1 and the second panel-side control output terminals 224B2 of thisembodiment are arranged the other way around relative to the arrangementof the first panel-side control output terminals 24B1 and the secondpanel-side control output terminals 24B2 in the first embodiment.According this configuration, the distance between a group of thepanel-side image output terminals 224A and a group of the firstpanel-side control output terminals 224B1 is larger in comparison to thefirst embodiment. Therefore, a larger space is provided between imagesignal lines 230 that extend from the terminals 224A and first controlsignal lines 231 that extend from the terminals 224B1. Thisconfiguration makes routing (or a layout) in the non-display area NAAeasier.

Fourth Embodiment

A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10. Thefourth embodiment includes panel-side control output terminals 324Bdisposed differently from the above embodiments. Similar configurations,operations, and effects to the first embodiment will not be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the panel-side control output terminals 324Binclude first panel-side control output terminals 324B1 and secondpanel-side control output terminals 324B2 irregularly arranged.Specifically, one of two second panel-side control output terminals324B2 is arranged at the far left in FIG. 10 among the panel-sidecontrol output terminals 324B. The other is arranged at the second fromthe right in FIG. 10 among the panel-side control output terminals 324B.One of three first panel-side control output terminals 324B1 is arrangedat the far right in FIG. 10 among the panel-side control outputterminals 324B. The other two are arranged at the third and the fourthfrom the right in FIG. 10 among the panel-side control output terminals324B. The second panel-side control output terminal 324B2 at the secondfrom the right in FIG. 10 among the panel-side control output terminals324B is sandwiched between the first panel-side control output terminals324B1 from the sides thereof. Two first panel-side control outputterminals 324B1 arranged at the third and the fourth from the right inFIG. 10 are sandwiched between the second panel-side control outputterminals 324B2 from the sides. With this configuration, a larger spaceis provided between first control signal lines 331A that extend from therespective first panel-side control output terminals 324B1. Furthermore,a larger space is provided between the second control signal lines 331Bthat extend from the respective second panel-side control outputterminals 324B2.

Fifth Embodiment

A fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11. Thefifth embodiment includes second control signal lines 431B includingsmall-width portions 433 and large-width portions 434, locations ofwhich are different from small-width portions and large-width portionsof the second embodiment. Similar configurations, operations, andeffects to the second embodiment will not be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, each of the second control signal lines 431Bof this embodiment includes two small-width portions 433 and alarge-width portion 434 located between the small-width portions 433.Specifically, the small-width portions 433 include a first small-widthportion 433A and a second small-width portion 433B. The firstsmall-width portion 433A includes a first end connected to a row controlcircuit 428. The second small-width portion 433B includes a second endconnected to a second panel-side control output terminal 424B2. Thefirst small-width portion 433A extends from the row control circuit 428to an end of an angled portion of the second control signal line 431B.In the angled portion, the second control signal line 431B is angledrelative to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The secondsmall-width portion 433B extends from a second panel-side control outputterminal 424B2 to an end of a portion of the second control signal line431B along the X-axis direction. The portion extends across a short edgeof a driver 421 to the outside of the driver 421. The second small-widthportion 433B includes a portion of the second control signal line 431Bbetween the second panel-side control output terminal 424B2 and theshort edge 421S of the driver 421 (in a mounting area in which thedriver 421 is mounted) and a portion of the second control signal line431B outer than the short edge 421S of the driver 421 (outside themounting area). A portion of the second small-width portion 433B insidethe mounting area is parallel to first control signal line inspectionlines 435A1 that are adjacently arranged in an area between the secondpanel-side control output terminals 424B2 and panel-side input terminals423.

The large-width portion 434 of each second control signal line 431Bincludes the angled portion that are angled relative to the X-axisdirection and the Y-axis direction and a portion of the second controlsignal line 431B along the Y-axis direction. The portion extends fromthe end of the angled portion downward in FIG. 11 (in a directionopposite to the row control circuit 428 and the display area AA). Endsof the large-width portion 434 are connected to the end of the firstsmall-width portion 433A and the end of the second small-width portion433B, respectively. The large-width portion 434 of the second controlsignal line 431B is arranged outer than the short edge 421S of thedriver 421 relative to the driver 421, that is, outside the mountingarea in which the driver 421 is mounted.

In this embodiment, the portion of each second control signal line 431Bbetween the second panel-side control output terminal 424B2 and theshort edge 421S of the driver 421 is configured as the small-widthportion 433 (the second small-width portion 433B). Even if a sufficientsize of space for the first control signal line inspection lines 435A1is not provided in an area between the second panel-side control outputterminals 424B2 and the panel-side input terminals 423 in the mountingarea in which the driver 421 is mounted, the second control signal lines431B can be routed in the area.

Other Embodiments

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described aboveand illustrated by the drawings. For examples, the following embodimentswill be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

(1) Lengths (or percentages) of the small-width portions and thelarge-width portions of the second control signal lines can be modifiedfrom those in the above embodiments. For the modification of the lengthsof the small-width portions and the large-width portions, it ispreferable to arrange at least the large-width portions in an area outerthan the short edge of the driver relative to the driver. Specifically,in the configuration of the first embodiment (i.e., the configurationnot including the inspection lines and the inspection terminals), thesecond control signal lines may be configured similar to the secondcontrol signal lines in the fifth embodiment. If the mounting area inwhich the driver is mounted has a large empty space in which the linesare not arranged, widths of portions of the second control signal linesbetween the second panel-side control terminals and the short edge ofthe driver (inside the mounting area in which the driver is mounted) maybe increased.

(2) For the modification of the widths and the lengths of the secondcontrol signal lines in the fifth embodiment as in the above embodiment(1), portions of the second control signal lines between connectingpoints of the inspection lines and the short edge of the driver may beconfigured as large-width portions. The large-width portions may beextended farther than the connecting points of the inspection linestoward the row control circuit.

(3) For the modification of the widths and the lengths of the secondcontrol signal lines in the fifth embodiment as in the above embodiment(1), the second control signal lines may include multiple small-widthportions or large-width portions.

(4) In the above embodiments, each second control signal line includetwo different widths in different portions, that is, the small-widthportion and the large-width portion. However, the second control signalline may include three or more different widths.

(5) In the above embodiments, a portion of each second control signalline has a larger width than the first control signal line. However, thesecond control signal line may have a width larger than the firstcontrol signal line for an entire length thereof.

(6) In the above embodiments, the width of the small-width portion ofeach second control signal line is substantially equal to the width ofthe first control signal line. However, the width of the small-widthportion of the second control signal line may be smaller or larger thanthat of the first control signal line.

(7) In the above embodiments, the first control signal lines includethose connected to the column control circuit. However, the secondcontrol signal lines may include those connected to the column controlcircuit. In this case, an arrangement similar to the arrangement in thethird embodiment (the second panel-side control output terminals arearranged adjacent to the panel-side image output terminals) ispreferable.

(8) In the above embodiments, the first control signal lines includethose including zigzag portions. However, the zigzag portions may bereplaced with small-width portions formed by partially reducing widthsof the first control signal lines to increase resistances. The purposeof the zigzag portions is to provide resistance portions for increasingthe line resistances in portions of the first control signal lines.Therefore, structures other than zigzag portions are acceptable as longas the purpose is achieved.

(9) The inspection lines and the inspection terminals in the secondembodiment are for inspections in the production process of the liquidcrystal panels. However, the inspection lines and the inspectionterminals may be used for driving the liquid crystal panels.

(10) The connecting points of the second control signal line inspectionlines to the second control signal lines may be modified from the secondembodiment. For example, the connecting points may be set at the ends ofthe angled portions of the second control lines.

(11) In the second embodiment, the inspection lines are connected to allcontrol signal lines, respectively. However, the inspection lines may beconnected to only some of the control signal lines. Furthermore, asingle inspection line may be connected to multiple control signallines.

(12) The arrangements of the panel-side output terminals and the controlsignal lines can be modified from those in the third and the fourthembodiments.

(13) In the above embodiments, the column control circuit and the rowcontrol circuit are arranged in the non-display area of the array board.However, the column control circuit and the row control circuit may beomitted and functions of those may be performed by the driver.

(14) In the above embodiments, the semiconductor films in the TFTs, thecolumn control circuit, and the row control circuit are CG silicon thinfilms. However, other kinds of semiconductor films such as amorphoussilicon (a-Si) films and oxide semiconductor (IGZO: InGaZnOx) films maybe used.

(15) In the above embodiments, the liquid crystal panel has a verticallylong rectangular shape. However, horizontally long rectangular liquidcrystal panels and square liquid crystal panels are included in thescope of the present invention.

(16) Liquid crystal panels including the liquid crystal panels in theabove embodiments and functional panels overlaid and attached to theliquid crystal panels are included in the scope of the presentinvention. The functional panels include touch panels and parallaxbarrier panels (switch liquid crystal panels).

(17) In the above embodiments, the edge-light type backlight unit isused. However, a direct type backlight unit may be used.

(18) The transmissive liquid crystal display device including thebacklight unit, which is an external light source, is provided as anexample. However, a reflective liquid crystal display device usingambient light for display is included in the scope of the presentinvention. In this case, the backlight unit is not required.

(19) In the above embodiments, the TFTs are used for switchingcomponents of the liquid crystal display device. However, a liquidcrystal display device including switching components other than theTFTs (e.g., thin film diodes (TFDs)) is included in the scope of thepresent invention. A color liquid crystal display and a black-and-whiteliquid crystal display are also included in the scope of the presentinvention.

(20) The liquid crystal display device including the liquid crystalpanel as a display panel is provided as an example. However, a displaydevice including other kind of display panel (e.g., a plasma displaypanel) and a display device including organic EL panel are included inthe scope of the present invention. In such display devices, thebacklight unit is not required.

(21) In the above embodiments, the liquid crystal panel that isclassified as a small sized or a small to middle sized display and usedfor PDAs, mobile phones, notebook computers, digital photo frames,portable video games, and electronic papers is provided as an example.Liquid crystal panels that are classified as middle sized or large sized(or supersized) displays having screen sizes from 20 inches to 90 inchesare included in the scope of the present invention. Such display panelsmay be used in electronic devices such as television devices, digitalsignage, and electronic blackboard.

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

10: liquid crystal display device (display device), 11, 111: liquidcrystal panel (display panel), 11 a: CF board (board), 11 b, 111 b:alley board (board), 11 c: liquid crystal layer (liquid crystal), 12:control circuit board (external signal source), 14: backlight unit(lighting unit), 17: TFT (switching component), 21, 121, 421: driver(panel driver), 21L: long edge, 21S, 121S, 421S: short edge, 23, 123,423: panel-side input terminal, 24, 124, 224: panel-side outputterminal, 24A, 124A, 224A: panel-side image output terminal (panel-sideoutput terminal), 24B, 124B, 224B, 324B: panel-side control outputterminal (panel-side output terminal), 24B1, 124B1, 224B1, 324B1: firstpanel-side control output terminal (panel-side output terminal), 24B2,124B2, 224B2, 324B2, 424B2: second panel-side control output terminal(panel-side output terminal), 27, 127: column control circuit, 28, 128,228, 428: row control circuit, 30, 130, 230: image signal line, 31, 131:control signal line, 31A, 131A, 231A, 331A: first control signal line,31B, 131B, 331B, 431B: second control signal line (clock control signalline, power supply control signal line), 32: zigzag portion, 35:inspection line, 35A: control signal line inspection line (inspectionline), 35A1, 435A1: first control signal line inspection line (firstinspection line), 35A2: second control signal line inspection line(second inspection line), 36: inspection terminal, 36A: control signalline inspection terminal (inspection terminal), 36A1: control signalline inspection terminal (first inspection terminal), 36A2: controlsignal line inspection terminal (second inspection terminal), AA:display area, NAA: non-display area

1. A display device comprising: a display panel including a display areaconfigured to display images and a non-display area outside the displayarea; a panel driver mounted in the non-display area and configured todrive the display panel by processing input signals supplied by anexternal signal source and inputting output signals generated from theinput signals to the display panel, the panel driver having an elongatedshape with a longitudinal direction thereof along an edge of the displaypanel; panel-side output terminals disposed in the non-display area andconnected to the panel driver; image signal lines disposed in thenon-display area and routed from the panel-side image output terminalsso as to cross a long edge of the panel driver and spread in a fan-likeform toward the display area, the image signal lines being configured totransmit image signals included in the output signals; and controlsignal lines disposed in the non-display area and routed from thepanel-side output terminals toward the display area, the control signallines being configured to transmit control signals included in theoutput signals and including: first control signal lines routed from thepanel-side output terminals so as to cross the long edge of the paneldriver and along the image signal lines toward the display area; andsecond control signal lines routed from the panel-side output terminalsso as to cross a short edge of the panel driver, each of the secondcontrol signal lines having at least a portion, a width of which islarger than a width of the first control signal lines.
 2. The displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of thesecond control signal line includes a portion between the panel-sideoutput terminals and the short edge of the panel driver and a portionoutside the short edge of the panel driver.
 3. The display deviceaccording to claim 2, further comprising inspection lines connected tothe control signal lines in the non-display area for inspectingcontinuity of the control signal lines, the inspection lines including:first inspection lines connected to the panel-side output terminals thatare connected to the first control signal lines; and second inspectionlines connected to portions of the second control signal lines closer tothe display area than portions of the second control signal lines havingthe larger width.
 4. The display device according to claim 3, whereinthe first control signal lines are connected to the panel-side outputterminals arranged adjacent to the panel-side output terminals that areconnected to the image signal lines, the second control signal lines areconnected to the panel-side output terminals arranged adjacent to thepanel-side output terminals that are connected to the first controlsignal lines away from the panel-side output terminals connected to theimage signal lines, and the first inspection lines are routed from thepanel-side output terminals connected to the first control signal lineso as to cross the short edge of the panel driver along the secondcontrol signal lines.
 5. The display device according to claim 4,further comprising first inspection terminals and second inspectionterminals in the non-display area, wherein the first inspectionterminals are connected to ends of the first inspection lines away fromends thereof closer to the panel-side output terminals, and the secondinspection terminals are connected to end of the second inspection linesaway from ends thereof closer to the second control signal lines andarranged adjacent to the first inspection terminals away from thepanel-side output terminals.
 6. The display device according to claim 1,further comprising: a plurality of switching components arranged in amatrix in the display area; and a row control circuit and a columncontrol circuit in the non-display area, wherein the row control circuitis connected to ends of the control signal lines closer to the displayarea and configured to control inputs of the control signals to theswitching components, and the column control circuit is connected toends of the image signal lines closer to the display area and configuredto control inputs of the image signals to the switching components. 7.The display device according to claim 6, wherein the second controlsignal lines include at least one of: a clock control signal lineconfigured to transmit clock signals, which are one kind of the controlsignals; and a power supply control signal line configured to transmitpower supply control signals for driving at least one of the columncontrol circuit and the row control circuit.
 8. The display deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein at least one of the first control signallines includes a zigzag portion at a middle section thereof, and atleast one of the row control circuit and the column control circuitincludes an electro-static discharge (ESD) protection circuitelectrically connected to the first control signal line including thezigzag portion.
 9. The display device according to claim 6, wherein theswitching components, the row control circuit, and the column controlcircuit include polycrystalline silicon thin films.
 10. The displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein the first control signal lines areconnected to the panel-side output terminals arranged adjacent to thepanel-side output terminals that are connected to the image signallines, the second control signal lines are connected to the panel-sideoutput terminals arranged adjacent to the panel-side output terminalsthat are connected to the first control signal lines and away from thepanel-side output terminals that are connected to the image signallines.
 11. The display device according to claim 1, further comprisingpanel-side input terminals disposed parallel to the panel-side outputterminals along the short edge of the panel driver in the non-displayarea, the panel-side input terminals being connected to the paneldriver, wherein the second control signal lines are routed in an areabetween the panel-side output terminals and the panel-side inputterminals.
 12. The display device according to claim 1, wherein thedisplay panel is a liquid crystal display panel including a pair ofsubstrates and liquid crystals sealed between the substrates.
 13. Thedisplay device according to claim 1, further comprising a lightingdevice arranged opposite the liquid crystal panel and away from adisplay surface of the liquid crystal panel, the lighting device beingconfigured to provide the liquid crystal panel with light.